Towel dispenser



E. B. BAHNSEN Dec. 7, 1965 TOWEL DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1963 INVENTOR. Erw/n B. Bczhnsen fiw y, by; WM; M r a E. B. BAHNSEN TOWEL DISPENSER Dec. 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1965 INVENTOR. Erwin B. Bahnsen MxM ATTYS.

E. B. BAHNSEN TOWEL DISPENSER Dec. 7, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 8, 1963 INVENTOR. Erwin B. Bahnsen BY w E. B. BAHNSEN Dec. 7, 1965 TOWEL DISPENSER Filed Ma a, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Erwin B. Bahnsen ll A I! 1955 E. B. BAHNSEN 3,

TOWEL DISPENSER Filed May 8, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 250 2| 256 257 2eo\ 26! |2ov.[/ W 262 INVENTOR.

Erwin B. Bahnsen BY Carrvs.

United States Patent 3,222,112 TOWEL DISPENSER Erwin B. Bahnscn, Hinsdale, Ill., assignor to Steiner American Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah, a corporation of Nevada Filed May 8, 1963, Ser. No. 278,937 19 Claims. (Cl. 31238) The present invention relates generally to improve ments in dispensing mechanisms, and more particularly to improvements in the operation and construction of towel dispensers of the continuous towel type.

In towel dispensers of this type an upstanding cabinet is provided in which is mounted in the upper end thereof a housing for the major portion of the dispensing mechanism. The supply roll of clean toweling is supported in a towel bed in the bottom of the housing and the free end of the towel is passed between a drive roll and a pinch roll, then out of the housing to provide a depending loop below the bottom of the housing but within the cabinet and then between the back of the housing and the rear portion of the towel bed to a soiled toweling takeup roll upon which the soiled toweling is automatically wound as the clean toweling is withdrawn from the supply roll during each dispensing operation.

A person using a toweling from the prior dispensers of the continuous towel type upon approaching the dispenser is faced with the soiled toweling from the preceding use, and before gaining access to a fresh section of toweling the user must grasp the soiled toweling and pull downwardly thereon to withdraw from the housing, and more particularly from the clean toweling supply roll therein, a fresh section of toweling. This prior arrangement is not only unattractive and uninviting to the user, but also may constitute a potential health hazard.

It further has been possible in prior towel dispensers for the user to grasp the soiled portion of the depending loop which is being fed upwardly to the rear of the housing toward the take-up roll. In other words, an unwary user might reach behind the forwardly disposed section of the depending towel loop and grasp the rear depending section not realizing that the rear section is soiled toweling.

In yet other prior dispensers, there is no arrangement for winding the trailing end of the soiled toweling upon the take-up roll, inasmuch as the drive for the take-up roll was supplied from the drive roll which in turn was powered manually by the user withdrawing the fresh section of toweling from the supply roll of clean toweling. As a result, the soiled trailing end of the toweling will hang downwardly from the rear of the dispenser thus presenting an uninviting and unpleasant appearance as well as constituting a potential health hazard.

It has been customary in prior towel dispensers to rewind used toweling on the take-up roll controlled by a take-up drive roll. At the end of each dispensing operation, the rotation of the take-up drive roll is suddenly stopped which may cause the take-up roll to overspin. The over spinning of the take-up roll may cause it to wind up more soiled toweling than fresh toweling dispensed from the housing. This causes the loop of toweling disposed below the housing to shorten, and with prior towel dispensers it has been necessary manually to reset the rollers so that a normal loop of toweling is available therebelow.

The foregoing objectionable operating conditions found in prior towel dispensers of the continuous towel type, as well as other objections and faults not specifically mentioned, have been eliminated in the improved dispenser of the present invention.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a continuous towel dispenser in which a fresh section of 3,222,112 Patented Dec. 7, 1%65 toweling is presented to the user automatically without the need for the user to touch soiled toweling or any mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide a continuous towel dispenser of the type set forth in which subsequent to each use of the available toweling section, a fresh section of toweling is fed from a supply roll of clean toweling and presented'for use by the next user.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a continuous towel dispenser of the type set forth that is motor operated to provide fresh toweling after each use of the toweling so that the next user is presented a fresh piece of toweling without touching the toweling or any part of the dispensing mechanism.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is another object of the invention to provide a continuous towel dispensing cabinet of the type set forth in which an electrical motor drives a fresh toweling drive roll, operation of the electrical motor to feed a clean section of toweling being in response to the use of the toweling exposed by the dispenser.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a continuous towel dispenser of the type set forth wherein the use of the fresh toweling disposed below the housing serves to actuate the control circuit, which after a predetermined time delay that permits the user to use the exposed toweling, actuates the drive motor to feed a fresh section of toweling into position to be used by the subsequent user.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a continuous towel dispenser of the type set forth, a control switch and actuator therefor forming a part of the control circuit for the drive motor, the actuator being responsive to normal movement of the exposed towel section during use thereof to close the control switch, the actuator being operable to actuate the control switch independently of the amount of toweling in the depending loop below the housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a continuous towel dispenser of the type set forth, structure preventing inadvertent contact of a user with the soiled toweling in the section of the depending loop extending upwardly toward the rear of the dispensing housing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a continuous towel dispenser of the type set forth control mechanism for rewinding the trailing end of the toweling upon the soiled towel take-up roll when the trailing end of the toweling passes the clean toweling drive roll.

In connection with the foregoing object, it is a further object of the invention to provide control mechanism which de-energizes the drive motor at the end of a rewinding of the trailing end of the toweling when the trailing end of the toweling approaches the soiled toweling take-up roll.

Further features of the invention pertain to the particular arrangement and construction of the parts whereby the above-outlined and additional operating features thereof are attained.

The invention, both as to its construction and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a towel dispensing cabinet including therein a continuous cloth towel dispensing mechanism made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention, certain parts being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the towel dispensing cabinet of FIG. 1 with certain parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the dispensing mechanism of the present invention with the right side wall of the housing removed in order more clearly to illustrate the interior of the mechanism;

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration on a reduced scale of the dispensing mechanism of the towel dispenser illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, the upper and lower doors of the housing being shown in the closed position by solid lines and in the open position by dashed lines, the path of the toweling from the clean toweling supply roll outwardly from the housing and downwardly around the control actuator and upwardly to the back of the housing and on to the take-up roll being illustrated in dashed lines;

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration similar to FIG. 4 but showing the parts moved to the use position by the hands of the user grasping the clean toweling section;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the dispenser with the cabinet removed, certain portions of the apparatus being broken away;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the actuator and the associated control switch together with the clutch mechanism interconnecting the actuator and the control switch substantially as seen in the direction of the arrows along the line of 7'[ of FIG. 6.;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical section along the line of 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view in vertical section through the pinch roll and the associated guide plate taken along the line 99. of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary view taken along the lines 10-10 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic mechanical-electrical diagram illustrating the control circuit for the towel dispenser of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is shown a towel dispenser of the continuous towel type generally designated by the numeral 20. and made in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. The dispensing mechanism for the dispenser is housed within a cabinet. generally designated by the numeral and of the type which is constructed to be disposed in a recess or opening in an associated wall. The cabinet 30, is essentially a right rectangular unit which includes an upstanding rear wall 31, upstanding spaced parallel side walls 32, a horizontal top wall 33 and a horizontal bottom wall- 34. A framing flange 35 surrounds the front of the cabinet 30 and extends laterally outwardly around the periphery thereof, the framing flange, 35 essentially comprising outwardly. extending flanges on the side walls 32, the top Wall 33 and the bottom wall 34. When the cabinet 30. is disposed in an associated wall recess, the framing flange 35 extends over the adjoining wall surfaces and covers and closes the space therebetween.

The upper portion of the cabinet 30. is adapted to receive therein a housing generally designated by the numeral 100. In order to cover and conceal the housing 100, the upper portion of the cabinet 30 is provided with a top or upper door 40 which is generally rectangular in shape and is provided with a rearwardly extending flange 41 along the top and the two vertical sides thereof. One side of the flange 41 is hinged to the adjacent. side wall 32 of the cabinet 30. as by the piano-type hinge 42. The lower edge 43 of the door 40 is spaced forwardly to provide ample space for the cloth toweling from the housing 100 to pass downwardly therebehind, the lower edge 43 defining the upper limit of the section of toweling available to a user.

The lower portion of the cabinet 30 is also closed by a door 50, the door being generally rectangular in shape and being hinged to the adjacent cabinet side wall 32 by a piano-type hinge 52. A frame is provided against which the lower door 50 abuts, the frame. including an upper frame member 53 and vertical side frame members 54 (see FIG. 2). A suitable lock 55 is provided to prevent unauthorized opening of the lower door 50, a portion of the space behind the lower door 50 being used for storage purposes and the like.

The cabinet 30 has mounted therein, in addition to the housing 100, the dispensing actuator generally designated by the numeral 200 and mounted upon the rear cabinet wall 31. The clean toweling supply is contained within the housing and clean toweling is dispensed from the front thereof approximately midway vertically thereof as illustrated in FIG. 1 and the clean toweling 101 extends downwardly from the housing 100 and to a use position defined by the lower edge 43 of the top door 40 and the top of the frame member 53, the section of the clean toweling in the use position being generally designated by the numeral 102 and being that portion of the toweling available in the use area diagrammatically indicated as at 1113 in FIG. 2. The toweling continues downwardly into contact with the actuator or detector 200 and then upwardly to the rear of the housing 100, the toweling below the frame member 53 and above the point of contact with the actuator 200 being designated by the numeral 104 and the toweling extending from the actuator 200 upwardly to the rear of the housing 100 being designated by the numeral 105, it being understood that the toweling sections 104 and 105 being in most cases soiled toweling which has previously been used at the use position 103.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings, further details of construction of the housing 100 will be described. The housing 100 includes a rear wall 111 which is adapted to be mounted against the rear surface of the rear cabinet wall 31 and left and right side walls 112 and 113, respectively, all formed of sheet metal and preferably fabricated as one piece. A top wall 114 is provided having a rear flange 115 fitting into and secured to an offset portion 116 on the rear wall 111. The forward portion of the top of the housing 100 and the upper portion of the front thereof are closed by an upper door 118 which is hingedly connected to the top wall. 114 as at 119, the open position of the top door 118 being illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 4 of the drawings. A lock 120. is provided on the top door 118 and is effective with the doors in the closed position to lock the top. door 118 with respect to the side walls of the housing 161), to prevent unauthorized access thereto. The lower portion of the front of the housing 100 and a greater portion of the bottom thereof are closed by a lower door 121 which is pivotally mounted on oppositely disposed supporting brackets generally designated by the numeral 122, the brackets 122 being respectively secured to the, inner surfaces of the side walls 112 and 113. The bottom door 121 further includes a curved bottom wall 123' which is adapted to support a supply roll 110 of clean toweling which rests upon the bottom wall 123 and is held therein by an upstanding rear wall 124 and a pair of side walls 125 forming a receptacle therefor generally designated by the numeral 126.

The supply roll receptacle 126 and the lower door 121 formed therewith pivot with respect to the remainder of the housing 100 and more particularly the receptacle 126 is pivoted on the mounting brackets 122 by the stub. shafts 127 which are connected to the side walls 125 by the nuts 128, the receptacle 126 being pivotable between an operating position illustrated by the solid lines in FIG. 4 and a loading position illustrated by dashed lines therein. A stop bracket 129 is provided to limit the outward pivoting of the receptacle 126, the bracket 129 contacting a portion of the mounting bracket 122 when the receptacle is in the loading position. A counterbalancing spring 130 is also provided to assist in returning the receptacle to the operativeposition, the spring 130 extending between the ear 131 formed on one of the side walls and the rear housing wall 111.

Clean toweling from the supply roll 110 is fed from therebencath upwardly over a measuring or drive roll 140.

which is mounted upon a pair of housing side plates 117 mounted on the inner surfaces of the housing side walls 112 and 113, the drive roll 140 being mounted for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular thereto and disposed substantially at the juncture between the lower edge of the upper door 118 and the upper edge of the lower door 121. The right-hand end of the drive roll 140 has fixedly attached thereto a sprocket 141 which serves to drive the roll 140 in the dispensing direction as will be described more fully hereinafter. In order to provide a better frictional engagement of the surface of the drive roll 140 with the toweling 101, the surface of the roll 140 is covered with a suitable frictional material, such as sandpaper, emery cloth, or the like.

Cooperating with the drive roll 140 in the dispensing of clean toweling is a pinch roll 150 having stub shafts 151 extending outwardly from the ends thereof and adapted to engage in and be guided by bracket members 152 and 153 which are spaced-apart a distance sufiicient to receive the associated stub shafts 151 therebetween, it be ing understood that a set of the bracket members 152153 is provided on each of the housing side plates 117 to guide the pinch roll 150. During the dispensing operation, the toweling 101 passes upwardly in front of and part way around the top of the drive roll 140, then upwardly around the rear and over the top and downwardly across a portion of the front of the pinch roll 150. Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings it will be seen that the pinch roll 150 is provided centrally thereof with an annular cutout 154 therein which receives a band 155 of a suitable conductor such as a metal, copper or brass being preferred; the purpose of the metallic band 155 will be described more fully hereinafter when describing the control circuit for the towel dispenser 20, it being noted that the outer surface of the band 155 is recessed below the outer surface of the pinch roll 150.

Disposed above the drive roll 140 and the pinch roll 150 is a guide plate generally designated by the numeral 160 which is provided toward the rear with outwardly extending lugs 161 which are pivotally received in openings in the side plates 117. The guide plate 160 is curved at its front end as at 162, the curved portion 162 having a radius substantially equal to that of the pinch roll 150 and normally resting upon the pinch roll 150 with the toweling 101 therebetween. The guide plate 160 serves to separate the clean toweling engaging the drive roll 140 and the pinch roll 150 from the soiled toweling that it is wound upon a take-up roll above the guide plate 160 as will be subsequently described. Referring further to FIG. 9 of the drawings it will be seen that there is formed in the curved portion 162 an opening 163 which is covered by an electrically insulating plate 164 firmly secured to the curved portion 162 and covering the opening 163. Mounted upon the insulating plate 164 is a pair of spaced-apart conductors 165 and 166 which are insulated from each other, the conductors 165 and 166 forming a part of the control circuit which will be described more fully hereinafter. So long as the toweling 101 is disposed between the curved plate portion 162 and the pinch roll 150, there will be no connection between the conductors 165 and 166; but removal of the toweling 101 permits the curved plate portion 160 to move downwardly toward the pinch roll 150 and to place the conductors 165 and 166 in contact with the electrically conducting metal band 155 on the pinch roll 150 thus completing a connection between the conductors 165 and 166.

The toweling 101 as it leaves the pinch roll 150 passes through a slot defined by the lower edge 128 of the upper door 118 and the upper edge of the lower door 121, the toweling 101 bearing against the edge 128 and then being directed downwardly around a curved portion 132 on the lower door 121, and from there downwardly around the curved bottom wall 123 and thence downwardly to the actuator 200.

The soiled toweling section 105 passes upwardly along toweling section 105.

' bracket 170 has a forwardly extending and generally horizontally disposed flange 174 terminating in a smoothing edge 175 which also extends the full width of the toweling and specifically the full width of the soiled toweling section 105. Disposed between the flange 172 and 174 is a third flange 176 formed integral with the upper edge of the rear receptacle wall 124 and extending rearwardly and downwardly therefrom and generally parallel to the smoothing flange 172 and overlying the smoothing flange 172, the smoothing flange 176 having a smoothing edge 177 thereon adapted to engage the soiled toweling and extending the full width thereof. The soiled toweling section 105 is accordingly first moved over the smoothing edge 173 and then over the smoothing edge 177 and thereafter over the smoothing edge to cause a substantial stretching and smoothing of the towel section 105 during passage thereover. Further details of construction of the smoothing edges can be seen in FIG. 10 wherein it will also be noted that the smoothing flange 172 has an elongated slot 178 therein extending rearwardly and the smoothing flange 176 has an elongated slot 179 therein extended forwardly, the slots 178 and 179 being adapted to receive a switch arm therein for a purpose that will be explained more fully hereinafter.

From the smoothing edge 175 the soiled toweling is directed upwardly and forwardly to a soiled toweling take-up roll generally designated by the numeral 180. More particularly, the soiled toweling 105 is fed upwardly and over the top of the take-up roll 180 and is wound thereon, the roll 180 being provided with stub shafts 181 which bear against and are guided by a pair of guides 182 mounted respectively on the side plates 117, see FIG. 3. The take-up roll 180 is driven by a take-up drive roll (see FIGS. 4 and 5) which is journaled for rotation upon the side plates 117; the righthand end of the drive roll 190 is provided with a sprocket 191 (see FIG. 3) upon which is mounted a chain 192 that provides a driving interconnection between the sprocket 141 on the drive roll 140 and the sprocket 191 on the take-up drive roll 190. The take-up drive roll 190 drives the take-up roll 180 by contacting the exposed surface of the soiled toweling wound thereon, and in order to provide a better frictional engagement of the surface of the take-up drive roll 190 with the soiled toweling 105, the surface of the roll 100 is covered with a suitable frictional material, such as sandpaper, emery cloth, or the like. Also mounted on the drive chain 192 is a bracket 193 which supports a roller cam 194 which is used in the control of the operation of the dispenser as will be described more fully hereinafter.

The details of construction of the dispensing actuator 200 can be best seen from FIGS. 6 to 8 of the drawings wherein it will be seen that the actuator 200 is mounted well below the housing 100 to provide an adequate supply of clean toweling at the use station 103 (see FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 also). The actuator 200 includes a mounting plate 201 which is mounted upon the rear wall 31 of the cabinet 30 (see FIG. 2) and has two forwardly directed flanges 202 and 203 thereon. Journaled upon the flanges 202 and 203 and extending forwardly and downwardly therefrom are two arms 204 and 205, respectively, which are interconnected at the forward ends by a crossbar 206. The arm 205 has an outwardly extending shaft 205a thereon extending through a suitable opening in the flange 203, the shaft 205a having an internal flange 218 thereon engaging the inner surface of the flange 203 and carrying a washer 219 engaging the outer surface of the flange 203, the shaft 205a having an integral flange 218 of the shaft 205a to hold the parts in the assembled position. A spring 227 is provided to urge the arm 205 and the associated parts upwardly, the spring 217 being connected between a screw 223 on the upper portion of the flange 218 and a screw 229 on the mounting bracket 201, the spring 227 being under tension and urging the arms 204 and 205 and the crossbar 206 upwardly.

The arm 204 is also provided with an outwardly extending shaft 207 which extends through an opening in the adjacent flange 202, the shaft 207 being provided with an outwardly extending flange 208 which bears against the washer 209 disposed against the inner surface of the flange 202. The portion of the shaft 207 extending outwardly beyond the flange 202 has mounted thereon a clutch 210 for selectively engaging the cam plate which serves to operate a control switch 230 to be described more fully hereinafter. A cam plate 211 has a shape best illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings Wherein it will be seen that the shaft 207 extends through an opening therein, the upper portion of the plate 211 carrying an offset portion 212 from which extends upwardly an arm 213 carrying a laterally and inwardly directed flange 214 at the upper end thereof, the flange 214 extending through an elongated and horizontally aligned slot 215 in the adjacent flange 202. The lower edge of the cam plate 211 is curved and carries a curved flange 216 thereon, the flange 216 extending toward the flange 203 and having a cam surface 217 thereon directed toward the flange 202 and adapted selectively to engage the plunger head 231 for the microswitch 230 mounted upon the mounting bracket 201.

The clutch 210 includes a clutch member 220 generally cylindrical in form and having an opening generally centrally thereof receiving the shaft 207 therethrough, the end of the clutch member 220 disposed toward the flange 202 having a smaller diameter than the end disposed toward the cam plate 211. Preferably the clutch member 220 is formed of a synthetic organic plastic resin such as nylon which has a smooth slick surface and is self-lubricating and yet will grip an adjacent surface when force is applied thereto. The portion of the shaft 207 extending beyond the cam plate 211 has a bushing 222 thereon about which is disposed a compression spring 221, the spring 221 being held in position by a washer 223 and a nut 224 engaging the threaded outer end of the shaft 207, the nut 224 being positively locked in position by a pin 225.

The clutch 210 serves to control the movement of the cam plate 211 between a switch opening position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 7, wherein the cam surface 217 engages the plunger head 231 of the switch 230, and a switch closing position illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 7, wherein the cam surface 217 moves with respect to the plunger head 231 so as to cause a closing of the switch 230, i.e., the plunger head 231 being disposed outwardly or to the left as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 8 when the cam plate is in the dashed position of FIG. 7 and the plunger head 231 being disposed inwardly or to the right as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 8 when the cam plate 211 is in the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 7. Movement of the cam plate 211 between the solid and the dashed line positions thereof in FIG. 7 is controlled by the movement of the crossbar 206 and the arms 204205. More specifically, movement of the arm 204 from the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 7 to the position illustrated in dashed line in FIG. 7, i.e., a movement of less than of arc, serves to move the cam plate 211 from the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 7 to the position illustrated by dashed lines therein; the arm 204 moving the cam plate 211 through the action of the clutch 210. Upon the reverse movement of the arm 204 from the position illustrated in dashed lines to that illustrated in solid lines, the cam plate 211 will also be returned from the position illus trated by dashed lines to that illustrated by solid lines,

theconnection between the arm 204 and the cam plate 211 again being the clutch 210. When moving the arm 204 from the position illustrated in solid lines upwardly or in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7, the arm 204 may be moved beyond the position illustrated by dashed lines, whereby the flange 214 on the cam plate 211 will engage the lefthand edge of the slot 215 when the arm 204 reaches the position illustrated by the dashed lines in FIG. 7, and thereafter the clutch 210 will permit continued movement of the arm 204 although the cam plate 211 does not further move. Upon approximately 5 rotation of the arm 204 in the clockwise direction or down as viewed in FIG. 7, the clutch 210 will cause the cam plate 211 to move from the position illustrated in dashed lines to that illustrated in solid lines, thus to actuate the switch 230. Likewise, the clutch 210 permits the arm 204 to move more than 5 in a clockwise direction or downwardly as viewed in FIG. 7, the clutch 210 insuring re-engagement between the arm 204 and the cam plate 211 when the direction of movement of the arm 204 is reversed.

Summarizing, the clutch 210 permits any desired amount of movement of the arm 204 but always causes re-engagement with the cam plate 211 at the end of the movement of the arm 204 so that the cam plate 211 will be moved with the arm 204 when the direction of the movement of the arm 204 is reversed. In other words, there will be an actuating movement of the cam plate 211 whenever the direction of movement of the arm 204 is reversed and the cam plate 211 will actuate the associated switch 230 even though the arm 204 is only moved slightly les than 5 when the direction of movement thereof is reversed, regardless of the total movement of the arm 204. A stop 232 is mounted upon the flange 202 positively to limit the downward movement in the arm 204 and the associated parts.

Another important feature of the present invention resides in the provision of the guard generally designated by the numeral 240 which is mounted upon the lower end of the housing and extends downwardly therefrom between the clean toweling section 102 and the soiled toweling section 105, the guard 240 preventing inadvertent grasping of the soiled toweling 105 by a user. More specifically, there is mounted beneath the housing 100 a pair of blocks 241 (see FIG. 6 particularly) held in place by bolts 242. Extending between the blocks 241 is a rod 244 having the ends thereof disposed respectively in openings in the blocks 241. Mounted upon the rod 244 and extending downwardly therefrom is the guard 240 in the form of a rigid plate, the preferred material of construction of the guard 24-0 being stainless steel. The guard 240 is thus mounted for swinging movement with respect to the housing 100 and is provided at the lower end with an upturned forwardly directed flange 243. The width of the guard 240 is slightly greater than the width of the associated toweling 101 and the length of the guard 240 is such that it hangs slightly below the cabinet frame member 53 which defines the bottom edge of the user station 103.

In accordance with the present invention, the movement of the towel 101 from the supply roll out of the housing 100 downwardly and then upwardly and rearwardly into the housing and onto the take-up roll is all accomplished automatically, the toweling being moved by a prime mover forming a part of the dispenser. To this end an electric drive motor 245 has been provided (see FIGS. 6 and 11), the motor 245 being mounted upon the housing side wall 112 and having the output thereof fed to a gear reducer 246 which in turn has an output shaft 247 that is connected to the take-up drive roll 190. Accordingly, the drive roll is rotated upon the operation of the motor 245 in the direction illustrated by the arrow in FIG. 3, rotation of the drive roll 190 rotating the sprocket 191 fixedly attached thereto which in turn 9 through the chain 192 drives the sprocket 141 that in turn drives the measuring roll 140.

The control circuit for controlling the operation of the drive motor 245 is best illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings. Power to operate the drive motor 245 is derived from a suitable source 250 of 120 volt, 60 cycle A.C. potential, such as the common commercial electrical wiring system. A plug 251 is provided to make connection with the source 250, the plug serving to connect two conductors 252 and 253 to appropriate conductors in the source 250. In order to insure that the dispensing mechanism is not driven by the motor 245 when the housing 100 is open and particularly when the lower door 121 is open, a door switch 254 has been provided having a plunger or switch arm 255 that is mounted to contact the inner surface of the lower door 121 when it is in the closed position (see FIG. 3 also). More specifically, when the lower door 121 is closed, the switch arm 255 is operable to close the contacts of the switch 254, but when the lower door 121 is open, the switch arm 255 is moved by a suitable spring (not shown) to open the contacts of the switch 254. The switch 254 is provided with a first terminal 256 connected to the conductor 252 and a second terminal 257 which is connected by a conductor 258 to one of the input terminals 248 on the motor 245.

One of the control circuits for the motor 245 is controlled by the switch 230 (see FIGS. 6 to 8 also), the other input terminal 249 of the motor 245 being conn'ected by a conductor 269 to one of the input terminals 233 of the switch 230. The other terminal 234 of the switch 230 is connected to another control switch 270 by a conductor 277.

The control switch 270 is mounted upon the right-hand side plate 117 (see FIGS. 3 to and is provided with a switch arm 273 positioned to be engaged by the cam roller 194 carried by the chain 192. The switch 270 is more particularly a double throw switch including an upper pair of switch contacts 271 (see FIG. 11) and a lower pair of switch contacts 272, the upper pair of switch contacts 271 being open when the switch arm 273 engages the cam roller 194 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 11, and the lower pair of switch contacts 272 being closed when the switch arm 273 engages the cam roller 194. The common contact of the switch contact pairs 271 and 272 is provided with a terminal 275 that connects with the conductor 253. The lowermost switch contact, i.e., the other contact in the pair 272 is provided with the terminal 276 and is connected to the conductor 277. The uppermost switch contact, i.e., the other contact of the pair 272, is provided with a terminal 274 which is connected to a conductor 268.

A time delay relay generally designated by the numeral 260 is provided for introducing a predetermined time delay of about 12 to 15 seconds at a predetermined point in the cycle of operation of the towel dispenser. Included in the time delay relay 260 is a heater coil 261 having input terminals 262 and 263, the input terminal 262 being connected to the conductor 257 and the input terminal 263 being connected to the conductor 268. Also forming a part of the time delay relay 260 is a bimetallic conductor 264 which when suitably heated by the coil 261 moves from the position illustrated in FIG. 11 into electrical connection with the cooperating contact 265. The bimetallic conductor 264 has a terminal 266 connected to the conductor 268 and the contact 265 has a terminal 267 connected to the conductor 269.

The conductors 165 and 166 (see FIG. 9 also) are connect'ed respectively to the conductor 284 and the conductor 253 to provide a connection therebetween when the conductors 164 and 165 contact the metallic band 155, these conductors 165 and 166 being used to complete a circuit for the drive motor 245 when the trailing end of the toweling 101 leaves the pinch roll 150. In order to turn oif the motor 245 when the trailing end of the toweling 101 approaches the take-up roll 180, a cutoff switch 280 has been provided (see FIGS. 3-5 and 10 also), the switch 280 being mounted upon the smoothing flange 174 which is in turn mounted upon the housing rear wall 111. The switch 280 has a pair of terminals 281 and 28-2, the terminal 281 being connected to the conductor 269 and the terminal 282 being connected to the conductor 284. A switch arm 283 is provided for opening and closing the contacts of the switch 280, the switch arm 283 extending downwardly along the inner surface of the rear housing wall 111 (see FIGS. 3 and 10) and into the slot 178 in the smoothing flange 172. The presence of the soiled toweling 105 around the smoothing edge 177 holds the switch arm 283 in the slot 178 to close the switch 280; after the trailing end of the toweling passes the smoothing edge 17 7, a suitable spring (not shown) in the switch 280 will move the switch arm 283 from the position illustrated in solid lines within the slot 178 to the position illustrated by dashed lines within the slot 179 (see FIG. 10) to open the switch 280 and interrupt one of the control circuits for the drive motor 245.

The operation and use of the towel dispenser 20 will now be described in detail. In order to place the supply roll of fresh toweling in the housing 100, the cabinet door 40 and the cabinet door 50 are unlocked and opened after which the upper housing door 118 may be unlocked and opened to remove the soiled toweling from the takeup roll 180 and the lower door 121 opened to place the clean supply roll 110 of fresh toweling in the receptacle 126 (see particularly FIGS. 3-5). The leading end of the fresh toweling is then threaded upwardly over the drive roll and around the top of the pinch roll and under the guide plate and downwardly and outwardly from the housing 100. The leading end is then fed downwardly along the outer surface of the lower door 121 and downwardly and around the cross bar 206 on the actuator 200 and then upwardly between the arms 204 and 205 to the rear of the receptacle 126. The toweling then is passed around the smoothing edge 173, the smoothing edge 177 and the smoothing edge and onto the top of the take-up roll and therearound to anchor the leading edge of the toweling upon the take-up roll 180 and to place a portion of the toweling wound upon the roll 180 in contact with the take-up drive roll 190. The doors 118 and 121 are closed and locked and the cabinet doors 40 and 50 are likewise closed and locked.

The closing of the lower door 121 closes the door switch 254 (see FIG. 11 also). The threading of the toweling around the smoothing edge 177 moves the switch arm 283 of the switch 280 rearwardly from the slot 179 and into the slot 178 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) to close the switch 280. The actuator 200 will be in a position with the arms 204 and 205 thereof disposed at an angle of about 45 from the vertical (see FIG. 2) and the cam surface 217 will be in engagement with the plunger head 231 to hold the switch 230 in the open position thereof.

As the user approaches the dispenser 20, he will be presented with a section of clean toweling 102 between the lower edge 43 of the cabinet door 40 and the upper edge of the frame member 53 at the use position 103, the vertical extent of the toweling presented being about 14" and the width of the toweling presented being about 11". The guard 240 will extend outwardly beyond the vertical edges of the toweling section 102 both to the left and to the right to prevent an inadvertent grasping of the rear toweling section 105 by the user.

As the user grasps the clean toweling section 102, the control circuit illustrated in FIG. 11 will have the parts substantially in the positions illustrated therein. More particularly, the plug 251 will be in electrical connection with the source 250; the door switch 254 will be closed; the actuating switch 230 will be open; the control switch 270 will have the lower pair of switch contacts 272 closed and the upper pair of switch contacts 271 open due to the fact that the cam roller 194 is in contact with and urging the switch arm 273 upwardly; the toweling 101 separates the conductors 165 and 166 from the bridging metallic band 155 (see FIG. 9 also); and the cut-off switch 280 will be closed due to the presence of the toweling section 105 around the smoothing edge 177 (see FIG. 10 also).

When the user grasps the clean toweling section 102 to dry his hands, the least outward or upward movement of the toweling section 102 will lift the cross bar 205 and thus pivot the arm 204 in the counterclockwise direction as illustrated in FIG. 7 an arcuate amount at least equal to the movement of the arm 204 from the solid line position thereof to the dashed line position thereof. Such movement of the arm 204 rotates the cam plate 211 in a counterclockwise direction from the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 7 to the position illustrated by dashed lines therein so as to move the cam surface 217 away from the plunger head 231 and thus to permit closing of the control switch 230. The closing of the switch 230 completes a circuit from the main supply conductor 252' through the door switch 254 and the conductor 258 to one terminal 248 of the drive motor 245; then from the other terminal 249 of the drive motor 245 to the conductor 269, through the closed switch 230, the conductor 277, the lower closed contacts 272 of the switch 270, and the terminal 275 to the other main supply conductor 253. The motor 245 is therefore energized and operates to drive the take-up drive roll 190 in the direction illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 3. The drive motor 245 through the gear reducer 246 drives the take-up drive roll 190 at a rate of about five to six revolutions per minute. After a very short period of operation of the drive motor 245 resulting in only a minute movement of the drive chain 192, the cam roller 194 disengages the switch arm 273 which results in a breaking of the connection between the contacts 272 and a closing of the switch contacts 271 of the control switch 270. The opening of the switch contacts 272 interrupts or breaks the circuits supplying power to the drive motor 245 to stop operation thereof. In fact the drive motor 245 operates for such a short period of time that the toweling, and particularly the clean toweling section 102, does not move a detectable amount and the above described operation of the drive motor 245 is not readily discernible to the user from the movement of the toweling section 102.

The movement of the switch contacts of the switch 270 from the position illustrated in FIG. 11 to that wherein the switch contacts 271 are closed and the switch contacts 272 are open also serves to complete another control circuit, this being a time delay control circuit in which the time delay relay 260 is inserted in series with the source of electrical supply and the drive motor 245 so as to cause operation of the drive motor 245 after a predetermined'time delay of approximately 12 to 15 seconds. More specifically, the closing of the switch contacts 271 establishes a circuit connecting the electrical supply to the heater coil 261, that circuit being from the supply conductors 252 through the door switch 254, the conductor 258 to the terminal 262, the heater coil 261 of the time delay relay 250, the terminal 263 to the conductor 268 to the terminal 274 and through the closed switch contacts 271 to the terminal 275 and the other main supply conductor 253. As the heater coil 261 operates, it heats the bimetallic conductor 264, and after the time delay of 12 to 15 seconds, the "conductor 264 moves to establish a circuit energizing the drive motor 245. This time delay energizing circuit for the drive motor 245 is from the main supply conductor 252 through the door switch 254, the conductor 257, the motor 245, the conductor 269, the switch contact 265 in the time delay relay 260, the bimetallic conductor 264, the conductor 268, the upper closed switch contacts 271 and to the other main supply conductor 253. It will be noted the time delay provided in this control circuit for the drive 12 motor 245 is sufficient to permit the ordinary user to dry his hands upon the clean toweling section 102.

Energization of the drive motor 245 through the time control [relay circuit described above causes the drive motor to operate to drive the take-up roll 190 which through the sprocket 191 and the drive chain 192 and the sprocket 141 also drives the measuring roll 140. More specifically, fresh toweling 101 is pulled upwardly from the supply roll (see FIGS. 3-5 also) around the forward surface of the measuring roll over the rear and the top of the pinch roll and under the guide plate and outwardly across the edge 128 and downwardly around the lower door 121. The soiled toweling from the user position 103 is drawn downwardly and around the cross bar 206 and then upwardly to the rear of the receptacle 126 and then across the smoothing edges 173, 177 and 175 onto the take-up roll 180. Operation of the drive motor 245 is continued until the cam roller 194 moves from essentially the position illustrated in FIG. 3 completely around the sprockets 191 and 141 in the direction illustrated by the arrows and returns to the position to engage and actuate the switch arm 273 of the switch 270. During this movement of the parts, sufficient toweling 101 is fed outwardly from the housing 100 to present a completely fresh toweling section 102 at the use position 103. Also, the movement of the soiled toweling downwardly and around the cross bar 206 insures that the actuator 200 including the arm 204 is moved from the position illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 7 to that illustrated by solid lines therein. This insures through the operation of the clutch 210 that the cam plate 211 is moved from the position illustrated by dashed lines in FIG. 7 to that illustrated by solid lines therein, whereby to move the cam surface 217 to reengage the plunger 231 and thus to open the switch 230 in preparation for a subsequent dispensing operation.

Upon engagement of the cam roller 194 with the switch arm 273, the parts of the switch 270 are moved to the positions illustrated in FIG. 11, namely, the upper switch contacts 271 are opened and the lower switch contacts 272 are closed. The opening of the switch contacts 271 interrupts or opens the circuit energizing the drive motor 245 and therefore halts operation thereof to leave the parts in the position illustrated in FIG. 11. So long as no one touches the clean toweling section 102, the parts will remain in the positions illustrated in FIG. 11, the parts being in readiness for another dispensing operation. It Will again be noted that the next user is presented with a completely fresh toweling section 102 which is not soiled in any Way.

When the next user grasps the clean toweling section 102, he will close the switch 230 to energize the motor 245 a sufiicient length of time to reverse the position of the switch 270, the reversal of the switch 270 completing the time delay circuit for the motor 245. After the predetermined time delay, the circuit will be completed for the drive motor 245 to cause operation thereof and operation of the towel dispensing mechanism within the housing 100 until the cam roller 194 again engages the switch arm 273 for the switch 270, it being noted that the time delay afforded by the relay 260 is sufficient to allow the ordinary user to complete the drying of his hands before any perceptible movement of the toweling section 102.

The dispensing operation described above may be repeated so long as there is toweling in the supply roll 110. Movement of the trailing end of the toweling 101 across the top of the pinch roll 150 begins operation of the control circuit for winding the trailing end of the toweling upon the take-up roll 180. More specifically, and referring to FIGS. 9 and 11 of the drawings, the removal of the toweling 101 from the pinch roll 150 permits the conductors and 166 to fall downwardly upon the metal band 155 thus to provide an electrical connection therebetween. The electrical connection between the conductors 165 and 166 establishes an energizing circuit for thc drive motor 245, this circuit extending from the main supply conductor 252 through the door switch 254, the conductor 258, the motor 245, the conductor 269, the cut-off switch 280, the conductor 284, the bridged conductors 165-166, and back to the other main supply conductor 253. This energizing circuit for the motor 245 causes operation thereof independently of the position of the switches 230 and 270 so that all of the trailing end of the toweling 101 can be fed upwardly along the back of the housing 100 despite the fact that the cam roller 194 may engage the switch arm 273 and the switch 270 a plurality of times. Upon the bridging of the conductors 165 and 166, the drive motor 245 therefore continues operation until the trailing edge of the toweling 101 passes the smoothing edge 177 (see FIG. also). When the toweling is removed from the smoothing edge 177, the switch arm 283 is free to move from the slot 17 8 into the slot 179, i.e., from the position illustrated by solid lines in FIG. 10 to that illustrated by dashed lines therein. This movement of the switch arm 283 opens the cutoff switch 280 and thus interrupts the circuit energizing the drive motor 245. All the circuits will now be deenergized inasmuch as the control switch 230 Will be open due to the weight of the arms 204 and 205 and the cross bar 206 urging the parts in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7, and the cut-off switch 280 will remain open due to the absence of toweling around the smoothing edge 177. The parts Will remain in this condition until a new supply roll 110 is placed in the receptacle 126 and the fresh toweling threaded along the path illustrated in FIG. 4 as has been described fully above.

It will be seen that there has been provided a towel dispenser of the continuous towel type which fulfills all of the objects and advantages set forth above. More particularly, there has been provided an improved towel dispenser which presents a clean toweling section 102 to the user at the use position 103 as the user approaches the dispenser 20. Initial contact of the user with the clean toweling section actuates a first control circuit which sets up a time delay circuit having a time delay sufficient to 'permit the user thoroughly to dry his hands. Thereafter the time delay circuit automatically operates the drive motor and the towel dispenser mechanism to present a clean toweling section 102 at the use station 103 without any effort on the part of the next user; accordingly, the next user is automatically presented with the clean toweling section 102 thus providing an attractive and inviting dispenser with resultant health benefits. The actuator 200 for the dispensing mechanism further includes an improved clutch which insures operation of the dispensing mechanism regardless of the amount of. movement of the fresh toweling section 102, provided only that a certain very small minimum movement of the toweling 102 is had. Furthermore, the guard 240 has been provided which prevents inadvertent grasping of the soiled toweling section 105 by the user rather than the fresh toweling section 102. Finally, an automatic take-up has been provided for the trailing end of the toweling so that the trailing end of the toweling will not hang downwardly in an uninviting and unattractive manner from the housingv 100 within the cabinet 30, the take-up mechanism including the automatic circuit for initiating take-up and an automatic circuit for stopping the motor 245 as the trailing end of the toweling approaches the take-up roll. After the trailing end of the toweling has been taken up, the guard 240 presents an attractive and a clean appearance for the dispenser 20 and discourages tampering with the parts thereof before a fresh roll of toweling is put therein.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit 7 and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor for operating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, an actuator mounted for engagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, and control mechanism for said motor mechanism and including a time delay mechanism having a predetermined time delay, said control mechanism being responsive to the movement of said actuator to said operative position for actuating said time delay mechanism and after said predetermined time delay causing said motor mechanism to operate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said use position.

2. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor connected to said drive roll for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, and control mechanism connected to said electric motor and responsive to the movement in use of the toweling at said use position for thereafter causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh tow-cling to said use position, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said use position.

3. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, an actuator mounted for engagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, and control mechanism responsive to the movement of said actuator to said operative position for causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said use position.

4. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, a control switch for said electric motor movable between a first operative position and a second inoperative position, an actuator mounted adjacent to said use position and engaging said toweling and movable upon use of the fresh toweling to a first actuating position and movable upon-release of the fresh toweling to a second rest position, a clutch interconnecting said actuator and said control switch and responsive to movement of said actuator to said actuating position to move said switch to the operative position thereof and responsive to movement of said actuator to the rest position for moving said switch to the inoperative position thereof, and a control circuit interconnecting said electric motor and said control switch and responsive to the movement of said switch to said operative position for causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said use position.

5. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 4, wherein said switch is a microswitch mounted adjacent to said actuator and having a plunger head, said actuator including an arm engaging the toweling and pivotal about an axis, said clutch including a cam plate having a cam surface adapted to engage and disengage said plunger head, said cam plate being mounted for limited oscillatory movement by the said axis between a first plunger head depressing position and a second plunger head release position, and a plastic clutch member disposed between said arm and said cam plate to impart the movement of said arm to said cam plate and yet permitting continued movement of said arm when said cam plate has reached the limit of its movement, whereby to insure operation of said switch upon movement of said arm without restricting the movement of said arm.

6. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, an actuator mounted for enagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, a time delay relay having a predetermined time delay, and a control circuit interconnecting said electric motor and said actuator and said time delay relay, said control circuit being responsive to movement of said actuator to said operative position for energizing said time delay relay and after said predetermined time delay causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said first position.

7. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, an actuator mounted for engagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, a time delay relay having a predetermined time delay, a control switch movable between a first position and a second position, and a control circuit interconnecting said electric motor and said actuator and said time delay relay and said control switch, said control circuit being responsive to the movement of said actuator to said operative position for moving said control switch to the second position thereof to initiate operation of said time delay relay and at the end of said predetermined time delay energizing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position and at the end of the dispensing operation to move said control switch from the second to the first position thereof to de-energize said electric motor, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said use position.

8. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type cornprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for d spensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, an actuator mounted for engagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, a time delay relay having a predetermined time delay, a control switch movable between a first position and a second position, a switch operator driven by said electric motor and operative to move said control switch between the first and second positions thereof, and a control circuit interconnecting said electric motor and said actuator and said time delay relay and said control switch, said control switch in the first position thereof establishing a first operating circuit including said drive motor and said control switch, said first operating circuit energizing said drive motor to drive said switch operator to move said control switch from the first position thereof to the second position thereof to de-energize said electric motor and to establish a second operating circuit including said drive motor and said time delay relay and said control switch, said second operating circuit after the lapse of said predetermined time delay energizing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position and to move said switch operator to operate said control switch from the second posi- 16 tion to the first position thereof at the end of the dispensing operation to de-energize said electric motor.

9. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, a rotatable pinch roll cooperating with said drive roll during the dispensing of clean toweling thereby, a guide plate mounted adjacent to said pinch roll and movable toward and away therefrom for guiding clean toweling over said pinch roll, said pinch roll and said guide plate having cooperating electrical conductors therein which are separated when toweling is disposed therebetween and which are in electrical contact when there is no toweling therebetween, a rotatable soiled toweling take-up roll for gathering the soiled toweling into a storage area therefor, a soiled toweling take-up drive roll for driving said soiled toweling take-up roll, an electric motor for rotating said drive rolls to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor and to take-up the soiled toweling on said soiled toweling take-up roll, and a control circuit interconnecting said electric motor and said conductors, said control circuit being responsive to contact between said conductors upon the passage of the trailing end of the toweling from between said pinch roll and said guide plate for causing said electric motor continuously to rotate said take-up drive roll until the trailing end is in said storage area.

10. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, a rotatable soiled toweling take-up roll for gathering soiled toweling into a storage area therefor, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor and for rotating said take-up roll to gather soiled toweling from said use position, an actuator mounted for engagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, first control mechanism responsive to the movement of said actuator to said operative position for causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position, and second control mechanism responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the toweling past said drive roll for causing said electric motor to rotate said take-up roll to move the trailing end past said use position and to said storage area, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said use position so long as clean toweling is in engagement with said drive roll and is presented with no toweling if there is no clean toweling engaging said drive roll.

11. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, a rotatable pinch roll cooperating with said drive roll during the dispensing of clean toweling thereby, a rotatable soiled toweling take-up roll for gathering the soiled toweling into a storage area therefor, a soiled toweling take-up drive roll for driving said soiled toweling roll, an electric motor for rotating said drive rolls to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor and to take-up the soiled toweling on said soiled toweling take-up roll, an actuator mounted for engagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, and control mechanism responsive to the movement of said actuator to said operative position for causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position and responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the toweling over said pinch roll for causing said electric motor continuously to rotate said take-up drive roll until the trailing end is in said storage area, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling at said use position so long .as clean toweling is in engagement with said drive roll and is presented with no toweling if there is no clean toweling engaging said drive roll.

12. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, a rotatable soiled toweling take-up roll for gathering soiled toweling into a storage area therefor, smoothing mechanism positioned between said drive roll and said take-up rollfor smoothing the soiled toweling as it enters said storage area, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor and for rotating said take-up roll to move the soiled toweling from said use position past said smoothing mechanism, an actuator mounted for engagement by the toweling adjacent to said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, a time delay relay having a predetermined time delay, and a control circuit interconnecting said electric motor and said actuator and said time delay relay, said control circuit being responsive to the movement of said actuator to said operative position for energizing said delay relay and after said predetermined time delay causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position and responsive to the passage of the trailing end of the toweling past said drive roll for energizing said electric motor to rotate said take-up roll to move the trailing end past said use station and to said smoothing mechanism and for de-energizing said electric motor when the trailing end passes said smoothing mechanism.

13. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a housing, a clean toweling feed member mounted in said housing for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, a soiled toweling take-up member in said housing for gathering the soiled toweling in a storage area therein, motor mechanism in said housing for operating said feed member to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor below said housing and for operating said take-up member to direct the soiled toweling section upwardly behind said use position, a guard mounted on said housing and extending downwardly therefrom and disposed between the fresh toweling section and the soiled toweling section and extending the length of said use position and having a width greater than that of the toweling at said use position to prevent inadvertent grasping of the soiled toweling section, and control mechanism for causing said motor mechanism to operate said feed member to dispense fresh toweling to said use position and to operate said take-up member to gather the soiled toweling in said storage area.

'14. A towel dispenser of the continuous tower type comprising a housing, .a clean towel feed member mounted in said housing for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, a soiled toweling take-up member in said housing for gathering the soiled toweling in a storage earea therein, motor mechanism in said housing for operating said feed member to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor below said housing and for operating said take-up member to direct the soiled toweling section upwardly behind said use position, a guard pivotally mounted on said housing and extending downwardly therefrom and disposed between the fresh toweling section and the soiled toweling section and extending the length of said use position and having a width greater than that of the toweling at said use position to prevent inadvertent grasping of the soiled toweling section, and control mechanism for causing said motor mechanism to operate said feed member to dispense fresh toweling to said use position and to operate said take-up memher to gather the soiled toweling in said storage area.

15. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 14, wherein said guard is formed of polished stainless steel and has an upturned flange on the lower end thereof directed outwardly toward said clean toweling section.

16. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising an upstanding cabinet having an upper door and a lower front wall, the lower edge of said door and the upper edge of said front wall being spaced-apart to provide a clean toweling use position, a clean toweling feed member mounted in said cabinet behind said door for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, a soiled toweling take-up member mounted in said cabinet for gathering the soiled toweling in a storage area therefor, an actuator mounted in said cabinet for engaging the toweling below said use position and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, motor mechanism mounted in said cabinet for operating said feed member to dispense a section of fresh toweling to said use position and for operating said take-up member to gather the soiled toweling in said storage area, and control mechanism mounted in said cabinet and responsive to the move ment of said actuator to said operative position for causing said motor mechanism to operate said feed motor to dispense fresh toweling to said use position and to operate said take-up member to gather the soiled toweling in said storage area.

17. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising an upstanding cabinet having an upper door and a lower front wall, the lower edge of said door and the upper edge .of said front wall being spaced-apart to provide a clean toweling use position, a housing mounted within said cabinet in the upper portion thereof and behind said upper door, a door for said housing permitting access to the interior thereof, a rotatable clean toweling drive roll mounted in said housing behind said housing door for dispensing clean toweling from a supply therein, a rotatable soiled toweling take-up roll mounted in said housing for gathering the soiled toweling in a storage area therein, an actuator mounted in said cabinet below said housing and below the upper edge of said front wall and engaging the toweling and movable upon use of the toweling to an operative position, an electric motor for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling out of said housing and downward-1y to said use position and for rotating said take-up roll to gather soiled toweling from said actuator into said storage area, and a control circuit connecting said actuator and said electric motor, said control circuit being responsive to the movement of said actuator to said operative position for energizing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling and to operate said take-up roll to gather soiled toweling.

18. The towel dispenser set forth in claim 17, wherein said housing door has a safety switch engaged thereby and included in said control circuit, said safety switch being responsive to opening of said housing door for preventing operation of said electric motor.

19. A towel dispenser of the continuous towel type comprising a rotatable clean toweling drive roll for dispensing clean toweling from a supply thereof, an electric motor connected to said drive roll for rotating said drive roll to dispense a section of fresh toweling to a use position therefor, detector means mounted for actuation by the toweling adjacent to said use position, said detector means being actuated to an operative condition upon the movement in use of the toweling at said use position, and control mechanism connected to said electric motor and said detector means and responsive to the actuation of said detector means to the operative condition thereof for causing said electric motor to rotate said drive roll to dispense fresh toweling to said use position, whereby the next user is presented with a section of fresh toweling.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,298,909 4/1919 Bersaques 312-38 1,983,646 12/1934 Steiner 312-38 2,090,255 8/1937 Fralk 312-38 2,193,589 3/1940 Grunwald 3l2-38 X 2,295,955 9/1942 La Page 312-38 X 2,899,251 8/1959 Birr 312-38 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,222,112 December 7, 1965 Erwin B. Bahnsen It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 18, line 64, after "toweling" insert at said use position Signed and sealed this 27th day of December 1966.

( L) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER- Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A TOWEL DISPENSER OF THE CONTINUOUS TOWEL TYPE COMPRISING A CLEAN TOWELING DRIVE ROLL FOR DISPENSING CLEAN TOWELING FROM A SUPPLY THEREOF, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOR OPERATING SAID DRIVE ROLL TO DIEPSNESE A SECTION OF FRESH TOWELING TO A USE POSITION THEREFOR, AN ACTUATOR MOUNTED FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE TOWELING ADJACENT TO SAID USE POSITION AND MOVABLE UPON USE OF THE TOWELING TO AN OPERATIVE POSITION, AND CONTROL MECHANISM FOR SAID MOTOR MECHANISM AND INCLUDING A TIME DELAY MECHANISM HAVING A PREDETERMINED TIME DELAY, SAID CONTROL MECHANISM BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE MOVEMENT OF SAID ACTUATOR TO SAID OPERATIVE POSITION FOR ACTUATING SAID TIME DELAY MECHANISM AND AFTER SAID PREDETERMINED TIME DELAY CAUSING SAID MOTOR MECHANISM TO OPERATE SAID DRIVE ROLL TO DISPENSE 